By Zahiruddin
CHITRAL: The two-day festival of Pathak Dik concluded here on Saturday in Garam Chashma valley of Lot Koh valley by the Muslims of Ismaili sect with religious zeal and fervor.
The houses had been decorated and whitened by wheat flour while special ceremony was held at the tomb of Pir Nasir Shah Khusro, a sufi saint who had came here from Central Asia for preaching of Islam in 18th century AD.
Anwar Baig, a resident of Garam Chashma told Chitral Times by telephone that the festival is held to commemorate the day of coming out of Pir Nasir Khusro from the 40-day prayer in isolation.
He said that the Central Asian sufi saint is held in high esteem in the valley as spiritual leader and the festival is held to pay homage to him while decoration of homes on this occasion is meant to remind his followers that they should cleanse their inner selves also from sins.
He said that the lavish distribution of cheese breads and desi ghee in the tomb of the saint and sending special gifts to the homes of married daughters was the reminiscence of the magnanimity of the saint.
